The start of a new season often tempts us to set ambitious goals—big projects, sweeping resolutions, grand reinventions. But as James Clear, author of the bestselling Atomic Habits, reminds us, it’s the small, consistent actions that actually transform our lives. “If you get 1% better every day,” he writes, “you’ll be 37 times better by the end of the year.”
That’s the spirit of what we’re exploring here, but with a touch of pleasure. These aren’t habits designed just to make you more productive—they’re about making life lighter, calmer, and more joyful. Because for many busy women, carving out time for themselves feels nearly impossible. Psychologist María Jesús Reyes Álava points out that most women have no more than 30 minutes of personal time a day—if that. No wonder fatigue creeps in and happiness feels elusive.
Here are five small, joy-centered habits that can help you bring a sense of ease and “holiday energy” into your everyday life.
1. Connection Doesn’t Need a Grand Plan
Spending time with loved ones doesn’t have to mean blocking off hours in your schedule. As habit coach Mel Robbins says, the point is to make connection a priority—whether it’s a quick voice note, a two-minute call on your lunch break, or simply sending a meme to make someone smile.
Research backs this up. Psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, who directed an 84-year Harvard study on adult development, found that the single strongest predictor of happiness and health is the quality of our relationships—not money, not success, not status. Which means even the smallest acts of connection are worth more than we realize.
2. Turn the Ordinary Into the Extraordinary
Happiness isn’t always about big gestures—it often lives in the details. Nutrition psychologist Itziar Digón reminds us not to overlook the tiny pleasures of everyday life. As psychologist Bárbara Tovar puts it: even a hot shower on a cold morning can feel like a mini-vacation if you allow yourself to savor it.
The trick is paying attention. The aroma of fresh coffee, ten minutes of reading, the warmth of your dog curled up beside you—these micro-moments matter. As Hannah Jane Parkinson writes in The Joy of Small Things, joy is often hiding in plain sight; we just need to notice it.
3. Swap Netflix for Nostalgia
Binge-watching your favorite series can be a treat, but now and then, swap an episode for a trip down memory lane. Neuroscientist Ana Ibáñez, author of Surprise Your Brain, explains that revisiting meaningful moments—through family videos, old photos, or voice notes—reactivates the emotions tied to them. This not only boosts mood but can shift how we see our current lives.
So the next time you’re between meetings, scroll your camera roll instead of Instagram. A two-minute glimpse of joy can be more powerful than an hour of screen time.
4. Play for the Sake of Play
Too often, we reserve energy for what “has to be done” and forget the simple joy of doing things just because they’re fun. Psychologist María Jesús Álava reminds us: life can’t be rewound, but we can choose to live it differently now.
As Meik Wiking, author of The Little Book of Hygge, writes: “We go to the gym to lose weight, meet friends to network, study to get a promotion. But what about doing something purely for pleasure?” Play—without agenda—matters. Research from Princeton even shows that stimulating leisure activities can make us happier. So dance badly, doodle in a notebook, or play a game just because.
5. Wear Summer in the Middle of Winter
Scent is one of the most powerful triggers of memory. One summer, I fell in love with a green tea–infused fragrance from Carolina Herrera. Back in Madrid, I tucked it away for “special occasions,” switching back to my usual winter scent. But one chilly morning, I spritzed it again—and in an instant, I was back on holiday, feeling carefree and sunlit.
A small shift, a single sensory cue, can change everything. Sometimes the fastest route to joy is simply bottled in a memory.
These tiny habits don’t demand hours you don’t have. They’re small, intentional tweaks that remind you joy doesn’t have to wait for vacation—it can be woven into the fabric of every single day.
